Wednesday, July 16, 2008

CD Review: Steve Lieberman, AKA The Gangsta Rabbi - Psych Ward

Steve Lieberman – Psych Ward2008, Steve Lieberman

Steve Lieberman, AKA The Gangsta Rabbi, has been making music for 40 years in one capacity or another. On his 14th release, Psych Ward, Lieberman shares his experiences as a Manic Depressive, in the hopes of helping others who experience the same illness.

Psych Ward is low-fi garage recording all the way. It's a cross between the Wesley Willis Fiasco and Jethro Tull, with a little bit of Ozzy Osbourne thrown in. This is one of the most bizarre recordings I've ever heard, but somehow strangely charming. Lieberman tackles aspects of his illness and society's response to with (one supposes) humor, biting rhetoric, and a lot of angry ranting (in musical form). From the musical parody of The Divinyls (When I Think About You) I Cut Myself to the hilarious Wrong Day To Go Commando, Lieberman will leave you chuckling, laughing out loud, and occasionally just scratching your head.

Other highlights include Jew In An Institution, Spring, and I Got Suspended. The material on Psych Ward is probably not appropriate for the kiddies, as some of the subject matter is a little on the adult side (An Hour To Masturbate), but there is a juvenile joy that comes through the music; even in songs that sound angry. Lieberman is a talented musician, and may well be able to go toe-to-toe with Ian Anderson on the flute.

Psych Ward is a bizarre sonic treat for those with the constitution to get through it. It's fun, funny, bizarre, and not a little unbalanced. Steve Lieberman is either daft or part genius. I'll leave it to you to decide.